(1996) Rene Preval, Lavalas party, elected to replace Aristide as president

(1999) Preval declared that parliament's term had expired, began ruling by decree

2000s

(2000) Aristide elected president for second non-consecutive term, amid allegations of irregularities

(2002) Haiti approved as full member of Caribbean Community (Caricom) trade bloc

(2003) Voodoo recognized as a religion

(2004) Celebrations marked the 200th year of independence; Aristide left under pressure of armed rebellion, forced into exile; severe floods in south; first UN peacekeepers arrived to help flood survivors; international donors pledged more than $1 billion in aid